Savor a Foodie Weekend in Boston, Massachusetts

Stay in splendor at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, right in the heart of Boston and just steps from landmarks like Copley Square and the Boston Public Library. This luxurious Fairmont location opened in 1912 and recently underwent a massive restoration project. Helpful concierges can direct you to a boutique on nearby Newbury Street, book tickets to an off-Broadway show or recommend a chic cocktail spot on classy Beacon Hill. The best part of staying here? Everything is within walking distance.

Mike and Patty's, located in Boston's historic and ultra-trendy South End, is a tiny place with only four seats, but the food is so good that it's worth eating your breakfast standing on the sidewalk. Go early, before lines form outside the door for unique breakfast choices like “The Fancy," a sandwich with two fried eggs, cheddar cheese, bacon, avocado, red onions and house-mayo on toasted Iggy’s multigrain bread. One bite and you'll see why Boston Magazine says these are the best breakfast sandwiches in the city. After savoring a breakfast sandwich, explore the South End's many art galleries and boutiques.

To fully immerse yourself in Boston's history, dine at the Union Oyster House, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the USA. Union Oyster House opened in 1826 and has been a National Historic Landmark since 2003. Former U.S. presidents and celebrities come here to feast on Boston specialties like local lobster or a Massachusetts staple: clam chowder. As for the oysters? They're always fresh.

Looking to sample Boston's emerging contemporary cuisine? Craigie on Main, in Boston's Cambridge neighborhood, is an intimate space helmed by the nationally known Tony Maws, the winner of “Boston's Best Chef" for four years. At his elegant restaurant, you might see both pig's tails and pig's head on the menu along with Chef Maws' distinctive take on local chicken, swordfish or eggplant. Bostonians know to request the Craigie on Main hamburger, which isn't listed on the menu but is well worth trying. Make sure to go early and explore the stately grounds of nearby Harvard, the most prestigious university in the USA.

Provincetown, on the very tip of Cape Cod, features beautiful ocean views, stylish restaurants, galleries, boutiques and lively shows. As a gay and lesbian travel hotspot, Provincetown's culture is warm and welcoming, featuring gay-friendly clubs and festivals in every season. The Bay State Cruise Company ferry from Boston, a scenic journey past the Boston Harbor Islands, is the easiest way to get there – a one-way ride takes just 90 minutes, cutting hours off travel time. Once you get there, spend the day strolling through town to pick up art or locally crafted gifts. At the end of the day, take the ferry back to Boston to relax at the Fairmont.